Locking 'Em Up

[John DiBartolomeo]

We’ve all heard of the stories; cars smoking the tires at the finish line, cars getting out of control, and in some cases racers being disqualified for hitting the brakes too hard.

https://dragracingedge.com/the-blog/locking-em-up/

[Bob Don]

Reminds me of this:

[Dave Noll]

And me of this old famous one

[Jon Sarrett]

The last time I locked them up I was quickly introduced to the guard wall. Don't do it folks. Not only do you put yourself in danger but you also endanger the guy in the other lane.

[Ed Wright]

Easier to get in trouble for that, than you might think. I got my butt chewed out for smoking my tires at the stripe, when I was pretty certain I had not stepped on the pedal hard enough to lock them up. Talking about that in the staging lanes later, another racer told me “You do it all the time!” I had no idea.

[Carguy49]

Be thankful that no one has ever died because of this. At least I don't think that has ever happened and hope that it NEVER does.

[Jack McCarthy]

as scooter pecos (ihra race director at the time) so eloquently explained to me after i said oh no sir my tires hit the fenderwell headers i wasnt skidding ... " that was 6mph less than previous run and i dont care if your rings go away if i see smoke again youre DQ"

summed it right up

[Dave Gantz]

I'm guessing a proportioning valve, with bias to the rear brakes has been tried?

I had a car that had factory front discs, and should've had 10" rear drums, but it had 11". It would lock the rears wheels when it had street tires on it, but stopped nicely when the slicks were on it.

Of course, the fronts usually do most of the work, but in this case, the rears did and the slicks made it work.

[Eric Merryfield]

Originally Posted by Jack McCarthy

as scooter pecos (ihra race director at the time) so eloquently explained to me after i said oh no sir my tires hit the fenderwell headers i wasnt skidding ... " that was 6mph less than previous run and i dont care if your rings go away if i see smoke again youre DQ"

summed it right up

Likely the best way is using the data, in addition to the eyeball test for smoke, getting out of shape, etc.

I always thought the MPH on the slip was the average MPH over the last 66 feet,

so wouldn't take a lot of effort to add a sensor to just have the slip print out the 1254 speed and time and the 1320 speed and time.......flagrant unsafe run would jump out.

also would be a good tool for micro-tuning the converter, rear gear, tranny fluid, etc.

Eric

[Ed Wright]

Originally Posted by Dave Gantz

I'm guessing a proportioning valve, with bias to the rear brakes has been tried?

I had a car that had factory front discs, and should've had 10" rear drums, but it had 11". It would lock the rears wheels when it had street tires on it, but stopped nicely when the slicks were on it.

Of course, the fronts usually do most of the work, but in this case, the rears did and the slicks made it work.

I put one on mine. An adjustable one. Several years ago. Fronts don’t slide so easily now.